Domestic Abuse Recorded by the Police in Scotland, 2017-18

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Domestic Abuse Recorded by the Police in Scotland, 2017-18.

The main findings include:

Levels of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland have remained relatively stable since 2011-12, with around 58.000 to 60,000 incidents a year. The police recorded 59,541 incidents of domestic abuse in 2017-18, an increase on 1% compared to the previous year.

In 2017-18, 44% of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland resulted in at least one crime or offence being committed.

The crime or offence that was most frequently recorded as part of a domestic abuse incident in 2017-18 was Common assault (accounting for 37% of all crimes and offences recorded). This was followed by Breach of the peace etc. which accounted for 31% of crimes and offences.

Where gender information was recorded, around four in every five incidents of domestic abuse in 2017-18 had a female victim and a male accused. This proportion has remained very stable since 2011-12.

In 2017-18, the 26-30 years old age group has the highest rate for both victims (272 incidents recorded per 10,000 population) and accused (246 incidents recorded per 10,000 population).

Incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police are more common at weekends with 35% of all incidents in 2017-18 occurring on a Saturday or Sunday.

In 2017-18, 88% of all incidents of domestic abuse occurred in a home or dwelling.

Background

1. The full statistical publication can be accessed at:
https://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781787814165

2. Further Information on Crime and Justice statistics within Scotland can be accessed at:
 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice

3. Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About

Contact:                  Russell Fallis: 0131 244 3558